Hasselblad 500C vs 500CM mirror slap

Grim Tuesday · Nov 7, 2019

I have a 500C and I just got a 500CM. The new-to-me 500CM has a significantly softer sounding mirror slap. Is this a result of the differences between the two models, or is it more likely to be a difference between my two individual specimens? I am thinking of selling my trusty C and moving to the CM but I am slightly concerned that the specimen of CM I have has an older/weaker spring or something like that and is closer to needing service. Or it could be the model differences.

John Koehrer · Nov 8, 2019

Some of the newer models have the "gliding mirror" but don't know when that began.

BrianShaw · Nov 8, 2019

John Koehrer said:
Some of the newer models have the "gliding mirror" but don't know when that began.

501CM. But I’m not sure if that changed the mirror slap.

itsdoable · Nov 8, 2019

Probably specimen related. The 1st 2 years of the 500c's use a pneumatic damper, but it was replaced with a rubber disc in ~1959.

When the rubber disk wears (or degrades), you get a little more mirror slap. Since the 500c is older than the 500cm, I'm guessing it may have to do with the state of the rubber disk brake.

Alan Gales · Nov 9, 2019

If you want more noise then buy an early Bronica. When I first tripped the shutter on my EC, the shutter was so loud that I thought I broke it!

I heard of a photographer shooting a Catholic wedding with one. The Priest made him quit shooting due to the noise echoing through the church.

Grim Tuesday · Nov 9, 2019

itsdoable said:
Probably specimen related. The 1st 2 years of the 500c's use a pneumatic damper, but it was replaced with a rubber disc in ~1959.

When the rubber disk wears (or degrades), you get a little more mirror slap. Since the 500c is older than the 500cm, I'm guessing it may have to do with the state of the rubber disk brake.

Perfect, thanks for the info! This is exactly what I was curious about. Though looks like it is going the opposite direction to the way I thought it would.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 9, 2019

Grim Tuesday said:
I have a 500C and I just got a 500CM. The new-to-me 500CM has a significantly softer sounding mirror slap. Is this a result of the differences between the two models, or is it more likely to be a difference between my two individual specimens? I am thinking of selling my trusty C and moving to the CM but I am slightly concerned that the specimen of CM I have has an older/weaker spring or something like that and is closer to needing service. Or it could be the model differences.

the sound of the Hassy 50 mirror slap is part of the built-in respect of that camera.

Hasselblad 500C vs 500CM mirror slap

Grim Tuesday

John Koehrer

BrianShaw

itsdoable

Alan Gales

Grim Tuesday

RalphLambrecht

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